Therapeutic shoe

ABSTRACT

An engineered therapeutic footwear for correcting a biomechanical misalignment and provide proper foot alignment. The therapeutic footwear comes with a built in GPS tracking system. The corrective footwear improves biomechanical foot issues by an inner molded brace that provides medial and lateral support, with internal metal frame support incorporated into the molded brace. The built in GPS is utilized to track the location of a child with/without disabilities and physical activity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to footwear, and more particularly totherapeutic footwear.

Some infants/toddler/children suffer with physical and mental healthdisabilities, such as autism, also exhibit various biomechanical footissues, such as pronated feet, high arches, toe walking, etc.Conventional footwear, including shoes and sneakers, do not provide theinner medial and lateral support for the ankle to correct thesebiomechanical foot issues and therefore do not provide for proper footalignment at an early formation stage in their development. Childrenwith misalignment due to various biomechanical foot issues leads toabnormality of leg development and pain.

Likewise, some children with certain mental health disabilities are alsoa flight risk, in that they may wander off without an awareness of theirsurroundings, much less with the skills necessary to find their wayhome, or to locate their care giver when away from home. Due tolimitations of their condition, they may also run the risk of developingobesity as activity levels may be impaired or restricted.

As can be seen, there is a need for an improved footwear to correctbiomechanical foot issues, to facilitate proper foot alignment atformative stages of development and a monitoring device to allowcaregivers to know the whereabouts of the child's location for safety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a therapeutic footwear isdisclosed. The therapeutic footwear includes a shoe body having a shoeupper, a sole attached to a bottom of the shoe body, and an interiorcavity dimensioned to receive a foot of a wearer. A molded brace has abase dimensioned to conform to a bottom of the interior cavity. An aftend of the molded brace, has a cup that is dimensioned to receive a heelof the foot. A protrusion is elevated and distends from a medial and alateral surface of an anterior portion of the cup. The protrusion isdimensioned to receive a malleolus of the foot. A sidewall extendsanterior from the protrusion and is dimensioned to extend to a pointadjacent to a ball of the foot. A cushioned lining is carried within themolded brace. The cushioned lining has an outer margin that extendsbeyond an extent of the molded brace. At least one fabric layer linesthe interior cavity and is connected to the shoe upper so that themolded brace is retained within the interior cavity of the shoe body.

In some embodiments, a plurality of longitudinal metallic supportsextend longitudinally along the base of the molded brace. The pluralityof longitudinal metallic supports is disposed in a spaced apart relationacross a width of the base.

In other embodiments, a plurality of vertical metallic supports isdisposed in a spaced apart relation between the cup and the protrusion.

In other embodiments, a GPS compartment is disposed in a heel area ofthe sole. The GPS compartment adapted to receive a GPS tracking device.

In yet other embodiments, an access is disposed in the heel area of thesole. The access is dimensioned to install and remove the GPS trackingdevice from the GPS compartment.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a high-top smart walking shoe in use.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a high-top smart walking shoe in dashwith foot resting on the molded brace inside the shoe.

FIG. 3 is a perspective exploded view of the high-top smart walking shoefabric covering the molded brace, and sole.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of a misaligned ankle.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of an ankle alignment corrected by the moldedbrace.

FIG. 6 is a side medial side view of the molded brace in use.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the molded brace.

FIG. 8 is a top front perspective view of an alternative embodiment ofthe therapeutic shoe with the molded brace retained within the lining.

FIG. 9 is a top front perspective view of the alternative embodimentillustrating a foot and the molded brace retained under the lining.

FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of another alternative embodiment ofthe therapeutic shoe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merelyfor the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention.

Broadly, embodiments of the present invention provides an apparatus andmethod for correcting foot biomechanics in children, particularly thosewith physical mental disabilities, such as autism. In some embodiments,the corrective footwear includes a location tracker to facilitatelocating a child that has wandered off or has become separated from acaregiver.

As seen in reference to FIGS. 1-9, a corrective therapeutic footwearaccording to aspects of the invention is illustrated. The correctivefootwear may include a shoe body. In the non-limiting embodiment shown,the shoe body 10 may be a high-top shoe 10 that is sized according toconventional shoe sizes and dimensions. The body 10 includes a shoeupper 70 formed in the style and appearance of one of an athleticsneakers or a dress shoe. The shoe body 10 includes a sole 40 that maybe formed with a rubberized athletic sole pattern or in a dress shoepattern corresponding to the style and appearance of the shoe upper 70.

The shoe body 10 includes a molded brace 20 that is received within aninterior space of the shoe body 10. The molded brace 20 may be formedwith a plastic or a carbon fiber material. A cushioned lining 22 iscarried within the molded brace 20 and has an outer margin that extendsbeyond the extents of the molded brace 20 to provide a cushioningagainst the wearer's foot 50 and to prevent impingement of the moldedbrace 20 during flexing of the foot 50 and ankle within the shoe body10. The molded brace 20 includes a plurality of metallic supports 60extending longitudinally along the base of the molded brace 20 anddisposed in a spaced apart relation across a lateral width of the moldedbrace 20. In a preferred embodiment, the molded brace 20 is a brace iswhich not customized to individual, rather the molded brace 20 is formedfor that person's age, structure, anatomical, and biomechanical size.

As seen in reference to FIG. 4 arrow 100 is provided showing an anklemisalignment condition. Referring to FIG. 5, arrow 110 indicates acorrected alignment utilizing the shoe 10 of the present invention. Theshoe body 10 with its integrated molded brace 20 and plurality ofmetallic supports 60 support the foot 50 just above the ankle bone ormalleolus and above. The corrective therapeutic shoe 10 will supportsoft, flexible, flat feet (pes Plano valgus). With the incorporatedmolded brace 20 the shoe 10 will maintain a vertical, or neutral, heelwhile also supporting the arches of the foot 50 to thereby improveproper foot alignment.

The molded brace 20 is formed to correct foot alignment of the wearer.The molded brace 20 is dimensioned to fit the empty spaces on theinterior of the shoe body 10 to improve fit of the posterior, medial andlateral wall of the shoe body 10 to the wearer's foot. The molded brace20 has a base 24 that is dimensioned to conform to a bottom of theinterior cavity. An aft end of the molded brace 20 has a cup 25dimensioned to receive a heel of the foot 50. A protrusion 26 iselevated and distends from a medial and a lateral surface of an anteriorportion of the cup 25. The protrusion 26 is dimensioned to receive amalleolus of the foot 50. A sidewall 28 extends anterior from theprotrusion 26 and is dimensioned to extend to a point adjacent to a ballof the foot 50. The molded brace 20 reduces stress and strain on thewearer's body and bring feet 50 into proper alignment. The shoe body 10re-align the foot 50 by re-directing and reducing certain motion toimprove walking in children and may also be employed as a correctivefootwear for adults.

The molded brace 20 includes a plurality of longitudinal metallicsupports 60 extend longitudinally along the base 24 of the molded brace20 and disposed in a spaced apart relation across a lateral width of themolded brace 20. A plurality of vertical metallic supports 60 aredisposed in a spaced apart relation in the cup 25 and the protrusion 26.The metallic supports 60 may be embedded in the molded brace 20.

The molded brace 20 is carried within the shoe upper 70 and is coveredwith at least one fabric 30 layer lining an interior of the shoe body 10so that the molded brace 20 is retained within the shoe. The at leastone fabric layer 30 is attached within the interior of the shoe upper 70to retain the molded brace 20 in position within the shoe body 10.

The sole 40 in one of a left or a right shoe may include may include aGPS compartment 90 that is dimensioned to contain a global positioningsystem (not shown) that is configured to provide a geographicalcoordinate for the location of the shoe 10, and presumably the child orperson wearing the shoe 10. An access 80 may be provided toremove/install the GPS carried within the GPS compartment so that theGPS may be serviced or moved from one pair of shoes to another.

In use, the GPS carried within the GPS compartment provides geographiclocation information. An application may be provided to alert the parentor caregiver when the child has left a designated location. Theapplication may also receive the geographic location information so thatthe parent or caregiver may locate the child, should they wander off.Likewise, the application may also activate an alarm when the geographiclocation information indicates that the child has departed apredetermined distance from a geographic location of the parent or caregiver's mobile computing device running the application. In someembodiments, the GPS may be monitored to determine an activity level ofthe child to provide the caregiver guidance on exercise and eating toavoid development or for the correction of obesity.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A therapeutic footwear, comprising: a shoe bodyhaving a shoe upper, a sole attached to a bottom of the shoe body, andan interior cavity dimensioned to receive a foot of a wearer; a moldedbrace having a base dimensioned to conform to a bottom of the interiorcavity, an aft end of the molded brace having a cup dimensioned toreceive a heel of the foot, a protrusion elevated and distending from amedial and a lateral surface of an anterior portion of the cup, theprotrusion dimensioned to receive a malleolus of the foot, a sidewallextending anterior from the protrusion and dimensioned to extend to apoint adjacent to a ball of the foot; a cushioned lining carried withinthe molded brace has an outer margin that extends beyond an extent ofthe molded brace; and at least one fabric layer lining the interiorcavity and connected to the shoe upper so that the molded brace retainedwithin the interior cavity of the shoe body.
 2. The therapeutic footwearof claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of longitudinal metallicsupports longitudinally extend along the base of the molded brace, theplurality of longitudinal metallic supports disposed in a spaced apartrelation across a width of the base.
 3. The therapeutic footwear ofclaim 1, further comprising: a plurality of vertical metallic supportsdisposed in a spaced apart relation between the cup and the protrusion.4. The therapeutic footwear of claim 1, further comprising: a GPScompartment disposed in a heel area of the sole, the GPS compartmentadapted to receive a GPS tracking device.
 5. The therapeutic footwear ofclaim 4, further comprising: an access disposed in the heel area of thesole, the access dimensioned to install and remove the GPS trackingdevice from the GPS compartment.
 6. The therapeutic footwear of claim 5,further comprising: the GPS tracking device carried within the GPScompartment.
 7. A therapeutic footwear, comprising: a shoe body having ashoe upper, a sole attached to a bottom of the shoe body, and aninterior dimensioned to receive a foot of a wearer; a molded bracereceived within the interior having a cup dimensioned to receive a heelof the foot, a protrusion elevated and distending from an anteriorportion of the cup, the protrusion dimensioned to receive a malleolus ofthe foot, a sidewall extending anterior from the protrusion anddimensioned to extend to a point adjacent to a ball of the foot; acushioned lining carried within the molded brace has an outer marginthat extends beyond an extent of the molded brace; and at least onefabric layer lining the interior and connected to the shoe upper so thatthe molded brace and the cushioned lining are retained within theinterior the shoe body.
 8. The therapeutic footwear of claim 7, furthercomprising: a plurality of longitudinal metallic supports longitudinallyextend along a base of the molded brace, the plurality of longitudinalmetallic supports disposed in a spaced apart relation across a width ofthe base.
 9. The therapeutic footwear of claim 8, further comprising: aplurality of vertical metallic supports disposed in a spaced apartrelation along the cup and the protrusion.
 10. The therapeutic footwearof claim 9, further comprising: a GPS compartment disposed in a heelarea of the sole, the GPS compartment adapted to receive a GPS trackingdevice.